Day 10

Off again in our bus for a trip to Pointe-A-Pitre, from our hotel in Le Gosier. First pic is of the islands- so you can see why they call it the 'butterfly islands'. Le Gosier is in the very south part of the Grande Terre--the island on the right. Pointe-A-Pitre is abit north of Le Gosier. We did a lot of street walking, showing some of the older houses. we visited a museum, that showed some of the costumes from Mardi Gras. pretty fancy. one pic showing a womans face is the old art gallery. It is being torn down, because it is not earthquake safe. they will build a new one with steel beams. Then we toured a church, again rebuilt with steel. Finally we went to a street market. Our tour leader treated us to ice cream before coming home. The last pic is a mock up of our hotel site-- you get an idea of how large it is. I have gotten lost 2x, trying to find our room!

Day 9 in paridise

Had a liesure day--sat on the beach, had 3 great swims in the ocean, and Neil and I went out to the end of the breakwater and got into the big waves. Got sunburned, had lots of sunscreen on, and yes, it was new, not expired!! Explored the property, walking around the trails, came across some aquawanas. Lots of birds in the trees, but not colouful ones. Roasters, chickens and cats all roam around! A bit crazy!! Really is a beautiful property.

day 7, and day 8

Before I tell you about the next two days,I am sending a pic of roof top hot water heaters, pretty well on every indiviual home in Martinque. What a great idea-- but maybe not for canadian winters! So day 7 was a long tiring day, on the bus at 11am heading to the airport for our flight to Guadeloupe, which was to go at 2pm, but was delayed -- so nearly 330 before we took off. that meant that we didnt get to the hotel till nearly 630. Got our room, washed up and went for dinner at 7--if we cpuld find our convuluted way! So now I will tell you about this hotel! 6 buildings, we are in building #5, one of the furthest away from reception, or restaurant--only one chair in the room, a shower in the bathtub, that works or doesnt. Neil and I are fairly adgile, but there are many who are not! It will be a miracle if no one falls. No balcony that you can sit out on, but you can open the glass sliding doors and look out, but we can see the ocean thru the trees,and the grounds are beautiful. Enough of the gripping!! Day 8 Guadeloupe is made up of 2 islands, looks like a butterfly, seperated by a river. So our hotel was on the right island called Grande Terre, we drove across the river to the other island, thru the lush tropicsl forest in the center of the island, then north along the coast enjoying views of the carribean ocean. first stop was the 'Crayfish' waterfalls, pretty but sure not spectactular. Next stop was at another Botanical Gardens, wonderful tropical plants and flowers, including colouful birds, lorikeets, macaws, and flamingos. Then we had lunch at a creole restaurant, fish again, but very good. Next we walked thru a medicinal garden with a guide, very interesting. There is even a plant leaf that you can use for sandpaper, very tough. Finally finished with a cocoa workshop, where they showed us the cocoa beans and the process to get it to powder-- had a small cup! Very good. Oh, and I forgot to mention, we were held up with a marti-graw parade. Over 500 dancers, singers and drummers. colourful and noisy! but very important the this culture.

Last full Day in Martinique

Relaxing day, walked about, swam in the pool, walked to the ocean. We've had beautiful sunny weather for the last few days-- a heavy downpour once in the afternoon. Martinique is famous for its rum-- made from sugar cane- so on every drive field after field of sugar cane, and the other side bananas, but their #1 industry is tourism. The bananas are very small- pic. Our hotel was very high end, in the pics below is our last nights menu, 4 course! Everynight, same thing but different food of course. Unfortunatley, dinner didnt start till 7pm, and by the time we were finished desert it was 930. not great to go to bed on a full belly. One evening we had entertainment, and another time we were instructed on how to make a great rum punch - which we did and enjoyed. Then the gals got to make a table center piece-- pic below. Our resterant was open to the outside, pic of Neil having breakfast this morning- you didnt dare leave your food or a bird would be right there to steal from your plate. As marti-graw is coming up, in the hotel

, they have been painting huge leaves, bright colours. This is a big thing down here

Day 3 and 4 in Martinique

Day 3 Tuesday was a lazy day, great walk in the morning after breakfast to explore some of the many beaches, but very hot, so back to the hotel to jump in tbe pool. In the afternoon walked to another beach, great swim, water soooo clear. Sand lovely. Back for dinner, but first there was entertainment in the lobby, a band and dancers, but the fellow who introduced the dancers ect, talked and talked-- and talked, all in french, so we didnt understand a thing that was happening, other than they were showing life of the black slaves. That made us an hour late for dinner, so by the time we finished it was 930. Too late to eat!! Day 4, wake up call at 6am, down for breafast, the on the bus for 745. First stop was some famous Botanical gardens, which were beautiful. Next stop, another rum distillary, but we were luckly, they had just started cutting the sugar cane, so actually got to see the huge machinery working. A bit of rum tasting, then to restaurant for a typical Creole lunch--a bit disappointing. Then off to visit a museum, telling about the volcano eruption in 1902, that killed 28,000 inhabitants. There had been tremors and other sign for 3 days, but the mayor was holding an election, and he did'nt call an evacuation. The volcano, blew up, spreading hot gas and ash, but no lava--temperature ofvtge hot gases-- 1000 degrees. so fried everything, completly obiterating the whole town. Back on the bus, but stopped at a beach for a bit, dark sands due to the volcanoes. home at 6 pm- pooped!!

Day two in Martinique

Well it was a little rainy today. we were bused to Fort De France today. Saw a beautiful cathedral-- in the rain! saw Bibliotheque Schoelcher, built in France for the 1889 World Exposition and moved here--in the rain! then went to a market, which thankfully was under cover. Took the ferry back to our town--in the rain. Got back, the sun came out and it was a beautful afternoon. had a swim in the pool at the hotel, then walked to the beach for a very nice swim in the ocean. so sorry, I still cant figure out how to get my pics to come up for the blog. need help!

First full day in Martinique! The temperature is warm, but cloudy with occasional light showers.;Interesting, they tell us that February is mostly hot and dry— but not this year, warm, but lots of rain. Making for lush undergrowth. Left the hotel this morning at 830, heading to the south end of the island. First stop was the birthplace of Josephine, who married Napoleon.The family came to the island, from France, hoping to set up a sugar cane plantation. Which they did, and became very rich! Josephine was born in 1763, and if I remember right married Napoleon when she was 16. We had great tour guide showing us the workings of the sugar plantation back in the day— of course all run by slaves. Saw the old ruins where the cane was made into brown sugar, for shipment to France, and the mill where the cane was squeezed to get the sap. Then we were off to a rum distilery-- martinique is famous for its rum. were able to tour the old mill, not in service anymore. Did some rum tasting, and toured the home of the owner-- the way it was back in the day. off for lunch at a nice restaurant right on the sea side. then we were supposed to go swimming at a famouus beach in tourquiose water, but it was poring rain, so decided not to stop. I have been trying to download pictures, but cant seem to do. will have to get some help-- Ella , where are you when we need you!! so no pics this time.